Men at Work
The first LP I ever owned (by myself and not shared with my brother) was given to me on my 12th birthday from my Uncle “M”. It was “MEN AT WORK, BUSINESS AS USUAL”. I loved this album, and played it over and over and over and over. At the time, and unfortunately for anyone within a mile of our house, my parents were living together (a situation that went back and forth almost weekly – move in – move out – move in – move out!!!). Anyway, my parents had routine knock down drag out fights that were renowned in my neighborhood. So, My Aunt “P” got me a set of headphones and my Uncle “M” got me my first very own LP! I quickly found that I could put the record on and run the headphone cord under the closet door. This gave me hideaway to listen to songs like “Who Can It Be Now?’, “Down Under” and “I Can See It In Your Eyes”. The entire album has been engrained in my memory banks, in fact too date I still know all the words! Of course I still used my bulky table top tape recorder to record songs off the radio, but LP's sounded so much better!!!! Ah, yesterday when I was young.......
I am not ranking this album in my top 100, as it is pretty much the beginning of it all.
Other events occurring at this time were:
Epcot, the second largest theme park at the time was almost completed!
Sony was working on the first compact disc player!
Falkland War
Cal Ripken starts what will eventually become his record-breaking consecutive games played streak of 2,632!
The first "Rubik's Cube" World Championship
The Equal Rights Amendment falls short of the 38 states needed to pass (equal rights based on sex)!
Billy Joel seriously injured in mototcycle accident in Long Island
Madonna signed a record deal and was working on her first album “Madonna”!
Michael Jackson's Thriller will release and go on to sell 20 million copies....
Ozzy bites the head off a live bat thrown at him at a concert!
Princess Grace of Monaco dies when her car hurtles off a cliff.
John Belushi Dies
Liposuction is introduced
Vietnam Memorial is erected
Eye of the Tiger was the number one song for the entire month of August, only to be bumped out in September by “Abracadabra” (Steve Miller Band) and then “Hard to say I’m Sorry” (by Chicago). “Jack and Diane” (John Cougar) took over for October!
Top grossing songs of 1982:
Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)
Down Under (Men at Work)
I Love Rock and Roll (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)
Come on Eileen (Dexys Midnight Runners)
Don’t You Want Me? (The Human League)
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7 comments:
You were 12 in 1982? Well my dear, I was 16!! I LIVED those songs:) The Surveyor and I were riding around town in his '69 Camaro jamming to every one of those (and a few by Molly Hatchet & Lynrd Skynrd) - the world was our oyster!
I really like this post idea. Can't wait to explore other years with you. Thanks for the memories!!
Um, I was 5 in 1982, but I will leave that alone before you guys start throwing things at me :) This is an awesome thing to post about. It is really true that we all have a soundtrack in life. Songs can trigger such memories.
Ok, EVERY single song you mentioned I just sang out loud until I read the next one!
Oh Gawd! You have made me feel soooo old! In a way, but young in another. I was 19 in 1982! Oh, yes, I remember all those songs so very well. I waitressed off and on through college and these songs were played constantly as cocktails were being served. I have seen the Thriller video a million times on a big screen that played the top MTV hits all night for the patrons to watch.
Young, carefree, (well, pretty much), and good music all the time. Good times.
I love your idea of listing the songs and rating them, now. Can't wait to see!
I'm totally the same way. For me, music can take me back to time and place more strongly than anything else can.
Why can't our life be like it is for the girls on The Hills? I want a cool soundtrack to follow me around throughout the day and change with my moods or the events of my life.
So I was 14 in 1982 and distinctly remember dancing to this song at one of my first Freshman dances. Did people jump around alot in the video because that's what I remember us all doing.
SHUT UP! Abracadabra was used in my "dance class" - granted I was in 6th grade and just - wow - half of those songs take me back to when I first moved back to Massachusetts. My first 45" (RECORD PREDO RECORD, down boy!) was Jack & Diane...
Ahhh - those were the days.
I love Colin Hay, the singer from Men at Work. His solo stuff is so good. If you haven't listened to him go to Blip.fm and type in his name. Anything he's done I think you would love (Listen to me? So bossy!).
You could link music using BLIP.fm, like I do on my site, that way we could listen to (Don't work for them, again, just being bossy!)
This is such a great idea! Thanks for the trip down memory road.
Suz
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